Mercedes-Benz rules out V8 Supercar programme

Speedcafe

Speedcafe6:44pm 8 August 2012

mercedesbenz-badge

Mercedes-Benz has informed V8 Supercars that it will not enter the category in 2013, ending months of discussion between the two parties.

According to News Limited reports today, Mercedes Benz and V8 Supercars representatives were involved in high-level talks to introduce the luxury car maker into Australia’s premier touring car category next year.

The deal would have seen its high-performance arm Mercedes AMG in Germany supply engines and technical assistance through its Customer Sports program, linked to long-time Ford squad Stone Brothers Racing.

Mercedes Benz has now ruled out any chance of being represented in the category next year, stating that the sport does not fit with its brand positioning.

“Mercedes-Benz has thoroughly investigated this possibility and, after serious consideration, the company has resolved that we will not be proceeding,” company spokesman David McCarthy told News Limited today.

“Obviously there are people and teams who want MB in V8 Supercars, but there will not be a factory team.

“We know that there have been discussions for the potential of this happening via a Customer Sports program. The Customer Sports programme for SLS GT3 provides a complete car whereas the V8 Supercars discussion was only for, and was limited to, engine supply and technical assistance only.

“We will not be proceeding with this as it is not a fit with the Australian and New Zealand brand positioning.”

The traditional Ford/Holden championship will see Nissan join the ranks next year with a four-car factory squad prepared by Kelly Racing. The team will be known as Nissan Motorsport next year.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

New look and new era for FPR

7:56am 8 February 2013

V8 Supercars
0

fpr-2013

The Pepsi Max Crew FPR has been unveiled at a high-profile launch party in Melbourne where the new relationship…  More >

German ace Engel to pilot vacated SVG seat

1:23pm 7 February 2013

V8 Supercars
0

maroengel-portrait

German born and former DTM driver Maro Engel will join the Erebus Motorsport V8 stable after signing a multi-year…  More >

Murph joins HRT for V8 Supercar enduros

11:08am 6 February 2013

V8 Supercars
0

gregmurphy-hrt

The Holden Racing Team has chosen Greg Murphy as its number one ‘draft pick’ for the V8 endurance races…  More >

Ross Stone issues scathing statement on the SVG saga

10:50pm 1 February 2013

V8 Supercars
5

Event 01 of the Australian V8 Supercar Championship Series

At Winton, Friday morning 16th November 2012, Shane van Gisbergen asked if all the SBR travelling race crew could…  More >

SVG discusses his move to Tekno

10:28am 24 January 2013

V8 Supercars
0

svg-v8sc

At the ripe old age of 17, a young Kiwi racer named Shane van Gisbergen made his V8 Supercars…  More >

Chris Pither confirms Dunlop Series return

9:20pm 23 January 2013

MotorNews.co.nz
0

chrispither-helmet

Comebacks are rare in the world of motorsport but Chris Pither has earned a second chance says Ice…  More >

RACE COUNTDOWN

NZV8

Manfield Round 3

V8 SuperTourers

Hampton Downs Motorsport Park Round 1

  • Latest story comments

  • Latest forum comments

  • "));
    Newsletter icon

    Get the latest motorsport news delivered to your inbox